Do I need to port my sub box?
Is a ported sub box better than sealed?
Can I port a sealed sub box?
Do subs hit harder in a ported box?
Is a 10 or 12 inch sub Better?
Are ported subs good for music?
How much space does a 12 inch sub need?
Does a ported box make subs louder?
What happens if ported box is too small?
Which way should subwoofer port face?
How do I know if my subwoofers are out of phase?
How much louder is ported than sealed?
| Type of subwoofer box | Impact on bass sound |
|---|---|
| Sealed box | Tighter, more accurate bass. Smaller box size Needs more power for louder bass |
| Ported box | Bass is louder and more boomy, less accurate Larger box size More efficient, doesn't require as much power |
Camp A: I Want to Hear Bass, Not Thunder
Each beat in a tight bass setup plays crisply, accurately, and with no ringing after it hits. The easiest way to achieve this is with a sealed sub...
Camp B: I Want My Bass to Be Loud
Boomy bass has more punch and reverberance in each of its beats. This is easily attained, without using any equalizer or processor, with a ported s...
Which Sub Enclosure Do You Prefer With Different Kinds of Music?
Crutchfield Advisors often ask their subwoofer customers what styles of music they like, so that they can recommend a sub that will match the custo...
The Setup For Our Listening Test
We loaded Sound Ordnance sealed and ported boxes with identical 10" Alpine subs, and powered them with the same mono amp mounted in our car listeni...
What is a ported enclosure?
These types of enclosures, when built with the properly calculated volume and tuned to the correct frequency for the subwoofer, are generally louder than a sealed enclosure. In a vented enclosure the woofer and port work together with the port resonating like a pipe organ. This works with the woofer to generate more bass than a sealed box.
What happens if a subwoofer is not tuned properly?
But if a port is not tuned correctly, it can limit the performance of your subwoofer (s) and/or have a damaging effect that may eventually cause your sub to fail. MTX Audio subwoofers are designed with built-in protection to reduce the possibility of failure if installed in a vented enclosure that is not tuned properly, but improper tuning will still cause unnecessary stress, and will hinder performance.
What is recommended enclosure volume?
Recommended Enclosure Volume – The amount of volume inside the subwoofer enclosure that the manufacturer of a subwoofer recommends (after the subwoofers have been installed) in order for the subwoofer (s) to perform to their maximum potential.
Why are sealed enclosures better than ported enclosures?
Sealed enclosures reproduce the low frequencies more accurately than ported enclosures because the air inside the box acts like a shock absorber, allowing the subwoofer to move back and forth in more control . The sound waves are reproduced more accurately than with a ported enclosure but the subwoofers may require slightly more power from ...
Why are sealed enclosures easier to build?
Sealed enclosures are generally smaller and easier to build because there is no port to tune. You simply build the enclosure to the proper specification for your chosen subwoofer (s).
How to get bass from car stereo?
We already know that the only way you're going to get full, rich bass from your car stereo system is to add a subwoofer. The addition of a subwoofer to your system will greatly improve the fun and impact of your music, no matter what kind of music you listen to. When considering what style of enclosure to buy or build for your subwoofers, you have to answer some questions that will lead you to the right answer for your specific listening preferences and vehicle.
What shape are ports?
Ports/Vents can be round, square, triangular , rectangular or any custom shape you can think of. For example, the port of the enclosure shown above is a rectangular slot port in the front of the enclosure. The port/vent shown below is triangular in shape and is also a slot port design but is located on the side of the enclosure.
What is a ported subwoofer?
A ported subwoofer will have a greater output than a sealed sub at low frequencies. The ported design makes it possible for DIY'ers to build an affordable subwoofer that is suitable for Home Theatre usage.
What happens to the resonant frequency of a port as the port gets longer?
Pipe mode resonance. As the port gets longer, the resonant frequency of the port decreases.
Does a ported sub sound crisp?
Transient Response. A ported subwoofer doesn't sound quite as crisp as a sealed sub.
How far away should subs be from corners?
If you can't place the subs in the precise centers of the walls you can try placing them at ¼ or ¾ of the distance from the corners along the walls.
Why use multiple subs?
Using multiple subs will result in better bass throughout the room. Better bass can be had from placing the subs at the exact center of opposing walls (the mi
How does a hole in a subwoofer work?
The hole in the subwoofer box works in a similar way, except it is the woofer driver that trigger the resonance and not the turbulence from the blowing air across the bottle opening. The relatively large volume of the box will cause the lowest frequencies to resonate.
What are the issues with ports?
There are a few other issues related to ports including integration of the sound from the port with the direct sound from the driver, chuffing (air turbulence creating noise when the port is working hard), and midrange coloration (undesirable higher frequency sound
Why is my port chuffing?
There are a few other issues related to ports including integration of the sound from the port with the direct sound from the driver, chuffing (air turbulence creating noise when the port is working hard ), and midrange coloration (undesirable higher frequency sounds escaping the port - high-frequency compared with the port tuning ie 100hz when the tuning is 20hz). Chuffing can be exacerbated by placement close to a wall, while pointing the port away from the listener tends to reduce midrange coloration.
What causes the lowest frequencies in a subwoofer?
The hole in the subwoofer box works in a similar way, except it is the woofer driver that trigger the resonance and not the turbulence from the blowing air across the bottle opening. The relatively large volume of the box will cause the lowest frequencies
Can you drill holes in unported boxes?
Drill/cut a hole in it. But don’t expect that to do what you want. Ported vs unported boxes are different size, and cutting a hole in an unported box will result in random results.
Ported / Vented Subwoofer Enclosures
Sealed Subwoofer Enclosures
- Some people prefer sound quality over SPL, or “tight”, more accurate bass over rattling the mirrors off their car. Sealed enclosures aren’t typically as loud as ported enclosures but they still enhance the listening experience greatly by providing more defined low frequency passages such as kick drums. The bass can still be felt in your chest and in the seats of the vehicle as if you were front …
Conclusion
- So whether you listen to rap, country, metal, or classical, your sound system can be improved with the addition of a subwoofer. How much space you have available, or are willing to give up, to install a subwoofer can be the deciding factor as to whether you choose a ported or sealed enclosure. But with either choice, build the enclosure to the appropriate specification given by th…
Specifications & Definitions to Consider
- When researching enclosures and subwoofers, below are some of the more important specifications and terms you will need to know in order to make the right decision as to whether a subwoofer and enclosure combination is appropriate for each other. Driver Displacement– Driver displacement is the volume of space displaced inside the enclosure after the subwoofer(s) has …
References
- See more on Subwoofer Enclosure Design at http://www.mtx.com/enclosure_design And also read about Subwoofer Enclosure Construction at http://www.mtx.com/enclosure_construction
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